Caroline Charles

RETURNING to the catwalk after 10 years away, <a href="#" onclick="window.open('/vogue_daily/popup.asp?keyword=caroline charles','search', 'toolbar=0,status=no,menuBar=0,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,width=250,height=450,left=10,top=100')" class="maintextimageu"><B> Caroline Charles </B></A> wasn't going to do anything to alienate her loyal customer base, much of which sat smiling in the front row – she's a popular lady, this one. With two divine granddaughters who came on as bridesmaids to a regal bride at the end, the show had a relaxed, unpretentious but high luxe atmosphere, as if we were in a country side drawing room. But we weren't: "Kick off your day shoes," sang the soundtrack as Charles put on a wonderful display of fabrics from all over the world – French laces, Italian silks, Indian beading and Scottish wools, all spun together in a visionary concoction of colour and print. It's still grown-up – but if your mother was to fill her wardrobe with this collection she would definitely qualify as a yummy one – and you'd do pretty well to raid it. Leather laces that bowed sweetly around the waists of fitted jackets, chic tweed suits and one ruffle-collared gold blouse were all worth a steal. (February 16 2006, AM)